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Paper Talk: Sun twist Pogba story; Arsenal transfer shock

Paul Pogba will “snub” a move to Manchester United and Manchester City, while there’s a huge shock regarding the amount of money in the Arsenal transfer fund.

ARSENAL TRANSFER FUND SHOCK

Arsenal will only have around £50million to spend in the summer, according to a report in the Evening Standard.

Collins Sarri Statham Investments have quoted the cash available for new players at just £54.1million – far less than the majority of fans are expecting the club to spend after another season without a serious challenge for the Premier League title.

The report’s author Ravi Lockyer says “the safest way the Gunners would be able to justify further expenditure on new signings would be by selling some of their own talent”.

It’s a suggestion that will further rile the Gunners’ fans, who were told last summer by Arsenal director Lord Harris that Arsene Wenger had the cash to spend big and who admitted “money was a lot freer”. Harris also revealed that Arsenal had £200million in the bank and with around £20million shelled out on Petr Cech (£10.5) and Mohamed Elneny (£9.3m) it was believed Wenger would have plenty of cash to throw around this summer.

The report goes on to claim that Arsenal have significant cash assets of £159.3m, but a little over a third of that could be made available to Wenger. And with Granit Xhaka’s likely arrival at a cost of over £30million that leaves the club with just over £20million to spend – probably on a replacement for Danny Welbeck.

POGBA TO ‘SNUB’ CITY AND UNITED

France international Paul Pogba will “snub interest from Manchester City and Manchester United” and stay at Juventus this summer, according to reports.

The Sunhave picked up some pretty mundane quotes from the former United midfielder and spun them into ‘Paul Pogba ready to snub Manchester United, Real Madrid and Manchester City as he aims to cement his legacy at Juventus’ story. It’s poor.

In actual fact, speaking at an open training session in Turin, the 23-year-old says nothing of the sort and barely mentions his future with Juventus, whom he in under contract with until 2019.

His agent Mino Raiola admitted in March that Pogba was close to extending his contract by a further year and so talk now of a snub for United and City is way off the mark.

Pogba has had another superb season in Serie A with Juventus, who have claimed a fifth consecutive Serie A title, and the all-action midfielder seems pretty happy with life in Italy.

Pogba, who has been linked with Barcelona, said: “I’m satisfied with my season, I think I grew up. This is demonstrated by the statistics, assists, goals. I beat all my records this year, I’m pretty proud of myself.

“I take more risks because there are fewer people to take them. Before there was Pirlo , Vidal and Tevez now I take a little more of the game in my hand although we have got experienced players like (Sami) Khedira or (Mario) Mandzukic.

“But it is true that I had to give a little’ more to the team. I always try to grow and when the game does not try to impress the audience, play my football, I’ve always been like that.

“I have many more matches in the legs today, I begin to understand when to hold the ball, when to change pace, this is where I grew up.

“This year I had more responsibilities and this has made me great. But I always need the advice of the coach.”

Chelsea are hopeful skipper John Terry will accept a new one-year deal to stay and help rebuild the deposed champions. (Sun)

Arsenal have made a £1.5m bid for Bolton defender Rob Holding and want a quick answer from the relegated Championship club. (Sun)

Everton have begun talks with the representatives of former Ajax boss Frank de Boer regarding the managerial vacancy at Goodison following the dismissal of Roberto Martinez. (Daily Mail)

Everton will consider appointing a sporting director as they plot a new era at Goodison Park following Martinez’s exit. (Liverpool Echo)

David Moyes said that he would consider a return to Everton as manager, after the club’s No 1 target, Ronald Koeman, revealed that he is ready to pledge his future to Southampton. (Times)

Manchester United have emerged as the clear favourites to sign Zlatan Ibrahimovic after the 34-year-old striker confirmed he would be leaving Paris St-Germain. (Daily Telegraph)

Former Inter Milan boss Walter Mazzarri is the odds-on favourite to become Watford’s new head coach when Quique Sanchez Flores leaves the club. (Watford Observer)

Ex-Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti claims “there is no manager in their career who is not sacked” and adds that Manchester City manager-elect Pep Guardiola will “one day come into our club, the Sack Club”. (The Times)

Leicester City are winning the race to sign Pescara striker Gianluca Lapadula, 26, according to the Serie B outfit’s president. (Radio Incontro Olmypia)

Defender Daryl Janmaat, 26, could be the first player to leave Newcastle United following the club’s relegation to the Championship.(Newcastle Chronicle)